Monday, December 7, 2009

It's Monday and that means my twelfth edition of "Follow Me Monday"! I cannot believe it has been 12 whole weeks since starting these crazy Monday videos! I hope you all have enjoyed them and maybe learned a thing or two!

Today I'm going to discuss mall shopping! It's the holiday season and that means shopping is usually on every ones mind. I thought a timely video topic would be on how to score bargains at the mall. I'm sure when most of you think of the mall, you don't always think about the savings, but there are actually lots of deals to be had! Don't believe me? Well, check out my video and see for yourself!:-)

Yay! Great job! There seems to be a lot of great deals at the mall. I was just at Hallmark with my coupon but didn't buy anything because I ran out of time looking for something to use it on with minimal out of pocket. Oh well, I will just have to go back later. Thanks for all the tips!

You are adorable! I like your little tan you picked up on vacation. I usually avoid the mall like the plague... but you have inspired me to maybe try it tonight since we're off to the mall for santa pics anyway. :)

I shopped like that the other day. My daughter was way into it cause she was getting a bunch of items for under what she had to spend. Guess coupons dont embbarress her as much now :D

Did you ever do the aeri thing with the free item on thursday?!OH!when i went to the hallmark store they asked if i want to oin thier card thing for points so YEAH! Also there was some little single items that where either 2.99 or 5.99 that they had but im sure those sold oout fast :( but getting that paper?! i SOOO WISH i thought of that :(

Thanks so much! That was cute! :-) Did you know that Children's Place also has a rewards program called Place Perks? They will send you a $10 coupon in the mail for every $75 that you spend! www.placeperks.com

You crack me up...I'm sitting here by myself laughing out loud. You did great on those bargains. Why didn't hubby get in the video?I know what you mean about Hallmark's prices...I had to hunt and hunt, even had hubby helping me. They do have small bags of candy for $4.95, and even though the coupon states that you have to have a $5.00 purchase, they took the coupon and just took off $4.95...I did have to pay tax. They also had this near the magnets and jewelry...it is a stone of some sort with "Be blessed." and a little red heart on the top and a flower on the bottom...these were marked $5.00, but rang up at $3.00...these are cute stocking stuffers or a cute gift for someone special in your life. They also had a gel air freshener for the car by Yankee Candle for $5.00.

Everytime I watch these videos, I always think to myself that these would be great shows for HGTV, TLC, etc. I think viewers would love to see this on TV! Is there a way to nominate someone to have their own TV show? (I'm being serious!)

oh collin -i just about died when the cashier scanned the vs rewards card!! $50!! wow good score!!! lol u cracked me up? i wish i could have seen the other customers in the store wondering what the heck was going on?!!! lol :)ash

I just bought 5 hallmark coupons off of ebay for 6.50 shipped. I am going to get some paper and some birthday cards for next year. Great video as always. I love shopping at the mall in january and february. Such great deals. We don't buy a lot for Christmas. We go after Christmas shopping instead. We started this 6 years ago when we went to the store the day after and a present I had gotten for my son was 50% off. I would have saved 80.00 to wait one day. Now my son is so into this. He gets more but it is spread out over a couple months. He also appreciates each item more because he no longer has a pile to go through on Christmas.(He is 13, so more understanding than say a 8 year old)

Anyways. Great tips on shopping. I NEVER shopped at VS before reading your blog.

Love it!!! Going shopping this week! Love your sense of humor - cracked me up! I used a Hallmark coupon for some Peppermint Bark (the bar - near registers I think) and a Dark Chocolate Bar (these were on a floor-level shelf on a tower display near the registers). Both equaled $5 together...so I paid 41 cents! Thanks Collin! (Oh, and congratulations on your $50 VS score! Woot!!!)

This was an awesome "Follow me Monday" video! You are so cute! I was jumping up and down with you when you found out your VS Reward card was a $50 card! I wish I could have gotten one! :( Oh Well! My sweater, free scarf and free panties should be here tomorrow! yay! Thanks for this great video!

Amazing! We don't have that beauty store... :( But at Hallmark I got a good deal for my little sister - who loves those Webkins things... They had one on clearance for 5.50... so 5o cents after coupon... Hallmark has good clearance at times!

this is off topic, but I just got an email from UdderCovers.comHere is what it says:

We are running a new promotion where you can get any of our nursing covers (regular price $32)- Free. You just pay the $8.95 shipping. The code is "Christmas".Go to uddercovers.com , click on "Shop Now", select the product you would like (we also have 3 piece gift sets available with this promotion) and you will automatically be directed to the center of the page where you can enter in the promo code! Type in Christmas and it will bring your product total to $0! They will sell out fast. You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser/window to do so. Good Luck!This promotion gives you a $32.00 discount off your total order no matter what you put in your cart! This promotion code is valid once per transaction, so you can order as many times as you would like!

Oh my gosh! How awesome that you had $50 on the Victoria Secret card! If anyone, YOU DESERVE that the MOST! You have helped so many families save a TON of money. I am a firm believer, what goes around comes around. ;)

I took my hallmark cards to a real gold crown hallmark store - these are way better than regular hallmark store. I got 2 13.00 melissa and dave puzzles on clearance for 1.00 and 2.00 each after coupons. I have more coupons so I'm going back. Also, theym let me use one magazine coupon and one printed internet coupon each in one day. It was a great store.

I did hallmark this weekend, they had some kids mugs with names on them for $5.99. So I got the mug for $1. Also I got a music card for $4.99, I added a candy and got the card for free. I also did the Bad and body works with the free item coupon. I got some super cute lamb slipper, they were %12.50 but with coupon free!!!!

Just got my order from VS today with the 3 sweaters and 1 scarf I ordered on Dec 1st and they gave me an extra rewards card.. I am running out of things to buy. Seriously I have a total of 7 sweaters and 3 scarves coming just for myself. I am going to head to the store adn see waht I can pick up there.

Wondering the same as Nicole, do you still have credit on that VS card?Also, has anyone tried to combine the yankee candle coupon with the hallmark coupon? I was in there for 20 minutes trying to find something the other day lol. They have the 3 pack of yankee candles and small candles on sale for 5.00 when you spend 20.00 ( yankee). I think Im gonna try combining the 2 coupons?

Awesome deals and great video Collin! Thanks so much again for the tips!

Out of context, but I just got a note from P&G that I am NOT receiving my pink cooking set because I need to purchase $25 at a "grocery" store not Rite Aid! The coupon reads "participating retailer" it does not specify grocery store and I know I checked the list of stores. Did anyone get the pink cooking set that purchased their items at Rite Aid???

Your site is seriously like a God send to me and my family. I never knew about shopping the way that you do, and now that I have begun (about 4 months ago), I am just ON A ROLL!!! Sites like yours are awesome and I am so thankful to have found you. Seriously, thank you for all your hard work and all you do. You are blessing so many people...like me out in a small town in California!

Lynne,I just received that same letter from P&G today, and emailed Collin about it. I was hoping she might have some idea for those of us that were told, by P&G no less, that Rite Aid was a participating store, and now are being refused the offer.

I also received the P&G letter saying I couldn't get the cookware unless I reshopped for $25 at a "grocery" store. Does anyone have a list of these acceptable grocery stores???? I also used Rite Aid the first time.

I just ordered from UdderCovers. I had a friend who ordered in the past(they had a similar promotion) and received hers in a timely fashion and with no problems. I also found this website who has a direct email from the owner. Perhaps this will ease some people's concern. http://www.wondermomenvy.com/2009/09/udder-covers-security.html

Like everyone else I wanted to say thank you for all the great things you put on the site. I am so happy that I found it. I have been unemployed for the past 12 months and on unemployment. I use my unemployment checks for groceries and Target runs, etc. while my husband covers mortgage, utilities, etc. Before I found your site I was really struggling each month but now I am so relieved to carry over a little from each unemployment check and have been buying more!! I just hope I can still be as thrifty once I return back to a full time job. You have been a lifesaver!!! Enjoy the holidays!!

I remember when I was a newbie to this site.....We all was trying to help each other with finding the high value coupon on oldnavyweekly.com! I remember staying up till like 3am trying to get them coupons! Them was the good ol days! LOL

Just wanted to mention about the Udder Covers deal, I ordered 2 of them ( 2 separate transactions) and got them both within about 2 weeks of ordering. I love the patterns and think the quality is great! Cant beat 8.95 ( unless you can sew and make it cheaper than that yourself, some of us arent so talented!) Havent had any wierd charges on my credit card...there is no scam. Just love the deal!

Hi, its me again (the Deaf one), I really would love to watch your videos and understand it. You can add the captions on your file and I will be able to click a button which will turn the captions on so I can understand what you are saying.

Here is a link where you can try that.

http://www.youtube.com/t/captions_about

As I really think I will benefit from your videos, as I LOVE your blog as I check it at least twice a day!

I have a question about the VC mystery card...why did you not go back and get extra merchandise when they scanned your card to find you got $50 FREE? I don't understand the program, and was confused why you didn't even grab something extra by the register. Please let us all know

Yay Collin! I seriously was excited with the whole VS thing! You go Girl! Honestly, you are such a relatable person and I love your blog! Your my favorite out of everyone!

Sending thanks from North Ga!

My husband was just laid of today and we have to go from 85K to $330 a week plus anything we get from our company we just started (3 weeks ago) needless to say we knew it was coming! I won't go into details but the owner has some personal issues.

You are awesome! I even put your website in our Home Owners Assoc. Newsletter this month!

I was so glad when you got a higher value VS mystery card. For all the business you send their way, you really earned it! Congrats! I still have to go try mine. Thanks again! Oh, and I loved that line: "people will think we are spending thousands of dollars." hahaha so true! :!

Off topic. I just checked my email and got my $40 in free stuff from 1800flowers.com that you posted last month. If you go to the free shipping merchandise and use code LR88 at checkout you can get a $49.99 bouquet delivered for $2.49. So I just placed my center piece order for Christmas and have a beautifil arrangement coming on Dec 23rd and it cost my under $3. How can you beat that? Love the deals Collin. Keep them coming!

I would love to know about the Gymboree Red Balloon sale the someone mentioned. Is that going on right now? Did you have an additional coupon? How often do they have these sales? I never shop at Gymboree because I've heard that they are expensive, but 49 cents an outfit sounds pretty good to me. I'm also wondering where the 15% off The Children's Place coupon can be found.

Great Job!! Every time I go into Children's Place I get upset. They always have awesome girl clothes but the boys they rarely have any clothes on clearance that are worth buying. Keep up the good work and saving money!

does anyone remember what the sc johnson rebate was for, i got a letter saying that it was invalid because i had a invalid upc ......of course..... but cannot remember which rebate this was for....glade candles? is that sc johnson....help! michellblackwell@yahoo.com

I LOVED this video so much! My daughter would loathe the pink doggie and it would look esp. cute in her stocking this Christmas! The only thing is I don't have one of those mystery discount cards; I guess I missed out on how to get that but I AM familiar with the free panty deals from PINK NATION. B&Body Works is always great too; got a sister who LOVES the stuff from that store, not to mention, ME~! :) This does inspire me to get after the deals that you always send our way! Thanks so much, can't wait to go shoppin'!

Sorry for not getting some of your questions answered sooner! I had some annoying issues with my internet this evening!

Anyway, to answer the main questions:

The $50 Victoria's Secret Rewards card is pretty much like a gift card, so yes I still have a balance left on it to use!

Also, here's some info about the Cookware rebate:

I called this number 1-877-733-5849 (on the bottom of the cookware rejection letter) and spoke with a P&G rep. She said that Rite Aid was in fact a participating retailer, but that they had pulled out all of a sudden! When she said that, I was thinking, how is that our fault?!

Anyway, I called Rite Aids customer service line after-- 1-800-Rite-Aid. I was transferred to the Single Check Rebate department and left a message. I would suggest all of us call Rite Aid and complain about this. I think , that if they get enough complaints, then maybe they'll honor the rebates! It's pretty ridiculous that they backed out and it's definitely not our fault!

I called and got the same story, Maybe we need to complain to S.C. Johnson besides Rite Aid. I mailed my form in October and this just happened within the past two weeks...Like this makes me want to go and purchase $25 more of SC Johnson products...lol

Ugh I go the same letter as everybody else on the P&G. I may have to make a call to Rite Aid tomorrow to complain. I don't understand how they can just decide to pull out if it is in writing on the rebate form.

Anyway Collin I want you to know your videos crack me up every Monday and your happy dance over the $50 made me smile! I forgot all about my Mystery card and went and got it. I called and boo mine is only $10. Lucky you!

You are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! I avoid the mall at all cost even though is about 3 minutes away from my house, but now that you have give me ideas on how to use my coupons I'll be hitting it this weekend!! =)

Question, how do shop ink? J and I wait til' the very last drop of black and color is gone to buy more because it is SO expensive!! I would really LOVE if you had any advice on this!!

Thank you SO SO SO SO SO SO very much for all your hard work to allow us to save money WITHOUT cutting back on little luxuries!!

anonymous 10:07--I think you mean "LOVE" not "LOATHE", right? Cute mix-up. I picture a little girl pulling the dog out of her stocking and going "OH NO! I hate it" Which totally wouldn't happen. It's just a fun mix-up.

Hey, just a thought about the coffee. If you already drink starbucks at home, you can use coupons (I had two $1.50 off 1 bag and one $1 off one bag) to get three bags of their coffee and Target right now and get a $5 gift card. The coffee has a coupon for a free cup of coffee at Starbucks. :-)

Loved your video but I take exception to the statement that Hallmark is expensive. Yes - some products are expensive but they ARE quality items and there are deals to be had if you look long enough - jusr like any of the other stores you shop at. I've used 3 of the $5/$5 coupons so far and have only had to spend a little cash. I've gotten 99¢ cards, that great quality Christmasd gift wrap that was on sale and some candy for my nephew. There are deals to be had if you look for them. Here is a short list of stuff that is around $5 or less: gift bags, tissue, bows and ribbons, wrapping paper, candy, cards, votive candles and birthday candle in some accounts, some ornaments are $5.99 (found hanging on a small tree). Take a little time to scout the store and you'll be surprised at how many things you can find.

You are way too cute! :) Unfortunately, our mall sucks, and we only have Victoria's secret and bath and body! I may have to start checking out some mall deals and make a list. I'm too cheap to spend 5 dollars on clothes! lOL! I've become soooo cheap with couponing. When I go to goodwill (I find awesome stuff there sometimes) I find that it's beginning too expensive. Almost 4 dollars for a USED shirt..that's crazy..when I can go to Sears sometimes and get shirt for 1.99!!!!

XIBALBA - try getting your ink cartridges refilled at Walgreens. It is wayyyy--- cheaper, but you have to do it right. You cannot wait until the ink is almost completely out or the refill won't work. When it starts messing up when you print, go ahead and pull it out, place it in a ziploc bag with all the air removed. That way the remaining ink won't dry up. If it does, then it doesn't usually work on the print test when they refill it at Walgreens. One of the Wags. in a nearby town had special boxes that had 50% off coupons on the box you received your newly filled ink in. We recently got that stores last box with the coupon on it. It works for as many as you get refilled. Last time, we took 3 cartridges in. We paid right around $20 for all 3. Had we printed the $5/$25 Wags. coupon that was available at the time, we could have also gotten $5 worth of free merchandise. Hope this helps!

Awesome! I love mall deals! I also had a Victoria Secrets Reward Card and it was $100!!! I couldn't believe it!! We used our $5 Hallmark coupons to stock up on some baby cards that we're gonna need soon! And a Christmas present that was a necklace priced just over $6, so was only a little over a dollar for a really pretty necklace!

Amanda C -How did you a $49.99 bouquet delivered for $2.49? I tried code LR88 and it said the promotion code I entered does not exist. I'd love to get in on this deal to send a Christmas arrangeable to my in=laws since we won't be able to see them over the Christmas holidays. Thanks for any help you can give!

I went and used my $5 off at Hallmark. The lady behind the counter did not want to take the coupon but she didn't say anything. The huffing and puffing told me. :) My store would not allow anyone to use the reward members coupon that came in the mail for $5 off on the wrapping paper.